Broke & Belonging
870 Words
I woke up to no marble. No glass. No city skyline.
Just a creaky mattress. Thin walls. And Damian’s arm heavy over my waist.
The penthouse was gone. Black Corp was gone. 51% of a billion-dollar empire… gone.
He’d chosen me.
“Morning,” his voice was rough. Morning voice. Not CEO voice.
I turned in his arms. He was in a plain white tee. No suit. No watch. Hair messy.
He looked 10 years younger. And more dangerous somehow.
“Morning, Mr. Broke,” I teased. Traced his collarbone.
Damian caught my wrist. Kissed my knuckles. “Morning, Mrs. Broke. How do you feel about ramen for breakfast?”
I laughed. Couldn’t help it. “I feel like the woman who owns Damian Black now.”
His eyes darkened. “You always did.”
The apartment was tiny. One bedroom. Kitchenette. View of a brick wall instead of the city.
He’d moved us here at 3am while I slept. No staff. No driver. Just him, me, and two suitcases.
“Where’s your stuff?” I sat up. The shirt from Chapter 10 slipped off my shoulder.
“Sold it,” he said casually. Pouring water in a cheap kettle. “Penthouses don’t matter if you’re not in them.”
“Damian, you sold Black Tower?”
“I sold the jet first,” he shrugged. Like he was talking about old shoes. “Kept this.” He pulled a black box from his bag. Not jewelry. Keys.
“Keys to what?”
“To us.” He set them on the table. “This apartment. 12-month lease. Paid in cash. No name attached. Isabella can’t touch it.”
My chest ached. Rule 2 screaming that this was a mistake. That I’d ruined him.
He must’ve seen it. Crossed the room in 2 steps. Knelt in front of me on the floor.
“Hey.” He took my face in both hands. Thumbs wiping tears I didn’t know fell. “Look at me. Do you regret it?”
“Losing billions?” I whispered. “Yes.”
“Good,” he said. Made me laugh again. “Because I don’t. I regret every second I spent in that boardroom instead of this kitchen with you.”
The kettle whistled. He stood, made ramen. Two bowls. Sat across from me at a wobbly table.
We ate in silence. Not awkward. Peaceful.
For the first time since Chapter 1, there were no cameras. No Isabella. No contract. Just him stealing noodles from my bowl.
“You’re terrible at this,” I said as he burned toast.
“I’m terrible at everything except owning companies and obsessing over you,” he admitted. “Guess I have to learn.”
My phone buzzed. Unknown number.
Text: _“Cute apartment. Took me 10 minutes to find you. Vance Corp is hiring. You can be my secretary, Ava. Since your husband’s unemployed now.”_ - Isabella
Damian read over my shoulder. Jaw ticked once.
Then he deleted the message. Blocked the number.
“She doesn’t get you,” he said. “Not your mornings. Not your ramen. Not me.”
He dropped to his knees again. This time he didn’t ask. Just rested his head on my lap. Like a king without a crown.
“I spent 30 years building walls,” he murmured into my stomach. “You walked through them in 10 chapters. Now I have nothing but you. Don’t leave.”
Not a command. A plea.
I threaded my fingers through his hair. “I’m not going anywhere, Damian. Broke suits you.”
He looked up. Grey eyes serious. “What if I can’t give you what you deserve? No penthouse. No security. Just me.”
I cupped his face. “You are what I deserve. The rest was bonus.”
His phone buzzed. Then mine. Then the apartment buzzer.
All at once.
Damian went still. CEO instincts back, even broke. “Stay here.” He stood. Checked the peephole.
Then cursed.
“Isabella,” he said flatly. “With police.”
He turned to me. “She’s claiming I kidnapped you. That the marriage was coerced. That you’re in danger.”
He held out his hand. “We can run. Or we can face her. Your choice, Ava. Always your choice.”
The buzzer screamed again. _“Open up! This is the police!”_
I took his hand. Stood.
“I chose you in a boardroom,” I said. “I’ll choose you in a police station too.”
Damian’s mouth curved. Proud. Feral. “Then let’s go show them what ‘broke’ looks like.”
He opened the door.
Isabella stood there in red, smiling. Two officers behind her.
“Damian Black,” she said sweetly. “You’re under arrest for unlawful confinement and breach of marital contract.”
Damian didn’t step back. Just pulled me to his side.
“No,” he said. “I’m under her. And that’s the only law that matters now.”
The officers looked between us. Between broke Damian and his wife in his shirt.
One of them sighed. “Sir, is this woman here willingly?”
All eyes on me.
- Writer
